In the early 1900s the Valleys had 620 deep coal
mines. Closed a generationago like many, the mine in Blaenavon has been reborn as a
museum where some 75,000 visitors a year don headlampsand descend into the tunnels. Known
as Big Pit, the mine once fueled the town's ironworks, which helpedforge the industrialrevolution.
In recognition of thatpivotal time UNESCO lastyear named Blaenavon a World Heritagesite.
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